Intimacy

The central theme of the novel is intimacy, showing how the process of becoming intimate with one person opens up the possibilities of self-knowledge and closer emotional bonds with a wider community of people.

At the start of the novel, Elio is characterized as withdrawn and inward looking. His parents worry that he spends too much time in the house and too much time alone. These outward behaviors are indicative of his internal state: Elio’s thoughts are inward-looking, analyzing his own feelings and behaviors, rather than seeking to engage more fully with the outside world. Elio quickly becomes obsessed with Oliver after his arrival at the family’s villa and this leads to a small step forward in Elio’s self-imposed isolation: although he still spends a lot of his time alone in thought, he now also spends some time in company and in conversation...